Lingo: Important Terms To Know When You Order Pallets

New to the industry? Is pallet lingo confusing you? There are so many terms! And with so many words to keep track of, it can make it a little difficult when you order pallets for business or personal use. To help get your pallet terminology up to scratch, we’ve drawn up this list of important terms to remember. 

But first, let’s do some Pallet 101. Below are the most common definitions you will hear of in the pallet industry, and they all have something to do with the type of pallet you are dealing with.

How To Order Pallets Of Different Varieties

If you’re reading this blog, you might not have even known there are different types of pallets to choose from. To be precise about what you need when you order pallets, it’s important to know these wood pallet distinctions. Generally, wood pallets are categorized by entry point, decking, and design.

Pallet Categories by Entry Points

1. Four-way entry pallet: All four sides of the pallet contain openings for the forklift forks 

2. Two-way entry pallet: It contains entry openings for forklift forks on both sides 

Pallet Categories by Decking

1. Double face pallet: A double-faced pallet comes with a top and bottom deck, unlike regular ones that only come with a top deck. A double-faced pallet can be divided further into these types:

1. Reversible – items can be stacked on either side of the pallet
2. Non-reversible – You can only use one surface (the one with more densely packed planks) for stacking 

2. Double wing pallet: The bottom and top deck boards of this pallet extend beyond the blocks or stringers placed between the decks.

3. Open deck pallet: This kind of pallet contains gaps between the deck boards, making it lighter and cheaper than other pallets.

4. Solid deck pallet: Like its name suggests, this pallet has a deck made of a solid sheet of wood to keep small objects safe inside.

Pallet Categories by Design

1. Block pallet: This type features posts (blocks) between the top and bottom decks of the pallet.

2. Skid: A wooden pallet without any bottom deck.

3. Stringer pallet: Instead of blocks, this type uses stringers as support between the top and bottom decks.

Terms To Know When You Order Pallets

B

Block: Deck spacer that can be square, rectangular, or cylindrical-shaped. Often referred to by its location such as edge block, middle block, or inner block.

Bottom deck: The deck board for the lower part of the pallet.

C

Chamfered deck board:  A deck board containing 1 or 2 faces with beveled edges.

Closed distribution system: In this system, the movement of goods is restricted between specific facilities or plants.

Cost per Trip: The average cost of the use of a pallet for a single (one-way) trip.

D

Deck board: A board placed perpendicular to the stringer placement.

Deck board spacing: The distance between each adjoining deck board.

E

Economic life: The number of trips a pallet is identified to make in its lifetime (provided it is properly repaired).

Exchange pallet: Also called a common pool pallet, it’s a pallet intended for use among a specific group of receivers and shippers. The ownership of the pallet is transferred along with the ownership of the unit load.

Expendable pallet: A pallet intended for a single unit load movement only, from the shipper to a receiver, after which it is disposed of.

F

Fastener: This refers to any device that joins pallet components, e.g. nail, bolt, screw, and staple.

Fork entry: It’s the opening in the pallet between the top and bottom decks or beneath the stringer (in the case of a non-double face pallet) where forklift forks can go in.

H

Hardwood pallet: A pallet made from a hardwood tree species such as mahogany or maple

Heat treatment: It’s an ISPM-15 standard treatment process for killing insects and pests living in the wood.

I

Inner, also called Inner deck board: It’s any deck board in between the lead or end boards.

J

Joint: The connection of components in the pallet. Frequently referred to with their location in the pallet, e.g. center joint, corner joint, etc.

K

Kiln-drying: A process that kills existing mold and mold spores in a wood pallet by drawing out moisture from the wood.

L

Leads: These are the boards at either end of the deck. They’re usually wider than the inners to aid the structural integrity of the pallet

Length: This refers to the length of the stringer or stringer board.

Load bearing surface: It’s the surface area of the pallet that’s in contact with the unit load.

M

Multiple-use pallet: Unlike the expendable pallet, a multiple-use one can be used repeatedly.

N

Notch: The space in the bottom of the stringer, which allows the entry of a fork tine.

Notched stringer: A stringer with 2 or more notches for fork tine entry.

NWPCA: It stands for the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, which is the national organization promoting the use, design, manufacture, and sale of wooden pallets and containers.

O

Overall height: It’s the span of the distance between the floor and the upper side of the top deck.

Overhang: This is the distance that the deck board extends outwards from the stringer board or stringer.

P

Pallet dimension: It is the size of any given pallet. The length of the stringer or stringer board is always mentioned first, followed by the length of the deck board.

Pallet Design System©: A CAD (Computer-Aided Design) that determines the safe load capacity, life, performance, and economy of wooden pallets.

Pallet life: The period during which a wooden pallet remains useful.

R

Rental pallet: A pallet that is only rented by the user.

Repaired pallet: A wooden pallet that has been repaired and has components that have been replaced with new or recycled parts to reuse it.

Recycled pallet: Any pallet that has been used, discarded, salvaged, and repaired/rebuilt then goes through a cycle again

S

Shook: Pallet parts that are cut to size to be assembled into pallets.

Slave pallet: A thick panel, pallet, or platform used as a support base for a palletized load in rack-storage facilities

Softwood pallet: A pallet made from the wood of gymnosperm trees such as pine or spruce.

Stevedore pallet: Mostly used on shipping docks in seaports. It usually has a heavy-duty and double-wing design.

Stringer: A beam component that supports deck components. Identified by its location in the pallet, e.g. outside stringer, center stringer.

Stringer board: It’s the solid and continuous board member in block pallets that lies perpendicular to the deck board components. This is placed between blocks and deck boards.

T

Trip: The number of handlings of a pallet, usually numbering 4-6. 

U

Unit load: The combination of single items on a pallet for handling, moving, and storage.

W

Wing: The part of the deck board that extends beyond the blocks or stringers.

Now that you know your pallet lingo, you can use these terms with confidence the next time you order pallets! Still not sure what kind of pallet is right for your business needs? We are always ready to help! With over thirty years of experience in the shipping industry, our team is qualified and willing to help you find the exact right shipping method for your product. Drop us a message or call us at (303) 660-0084 today!